Racial Disparities in Anesthesia Care: A Systematic Review of Pain Management and Patient Outcomes

Racial disparities in healthcare are a prominent issue that needs to be addressed to improve the quality of care for all patients. There are several disparities and biases related to the perceived pain tolerance people of color (POC) patients have and their need for analgesics. These biases lead to inadequate pain management and decreased health outcomes. Our study aims to highlight these disparities and how they impact the care patients receive, specifically in the field of anesthesia. To conduct this study, a comprehensive systematic literature search was performed, articles were included and removed according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a systematic review was performed. Sixteen papers that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected, and after data collection, correlations between POC and pain tolerance were assessed throughout the articles. The studies reviewed showed that there may be some correlation between racial background and perceived pain tolerance. While some studies found that racial disparities may negatively impact the care POC patients receive, others found that there was no correlation at all. Regardless, more studies need to be conducted to assess the factors influencing the treatment of POC in anesthesia.